Friday's letters

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 7:39 p.m.

I am pleased to see that homelessness is finally on the front burner in our community, where it belongs. And I am more hopeful than in a long time that leadership on this issue is finally emerging.

It is particularly gratifying to see Sarasota's city manager, Tom Barwin, and Police Chief Bernadette DiPino taking a lead role, and yet homelessness is not solely a city problem. It is a community problem, although clearly the city bears the brunt.

Many communities nationwide have effectively ended homelessness, but they did so with everyone at the table. Another sign of promise is having several private donors step forward, and several local foundations have signaled they are ready to help.

Next, the business community must get on board, and Sarasota County government must take a lead role, and soon, lest we lose this momentum and opportunity. County government is where we come together for the common good with our tax dollars and ending homelessness will surely enhance the common good for the benefit of us all.

Another spark of promise came from Chairwoman Carolyn Mason during the county's recent planning workshop. As quoted in the Herald-Tribune on Dec. 7, 2012, "she believes there should be a 'one-stop' center for homeless services in both North and South County." This would be a big step forward, and we have only to look to Manatee County to gauge the success of the Bill Galvano One Stop Center.

We are latecomers to this national effort, but I firmly believe now is the time.

Richard Martin

Editor's note: The writer is former director of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness.

Questioning choices

I'm so glad Tom Lyons finally brought to light two of my most confounding issues with the Sarasota Salvation Army: not allowing the homeless access to their "campus" except at specific times, and charging $10 to sleep there ("So where do we want the city's homeless to go," Thursday's Herald-Tribune).

For an organization that solicits funds -- we thought to take care of people in need -- it is indeed mystifying how it can make these choices. Not only is it cruel to ban the homeless from the grounds, but those concerned with the "image" of the Rosemary District are naturally upset by the increasing congregations of sidewalk "residents," who, literally, have no other place to go.

Every time I drive by I am ashamed of the Salvation Army. Here's this fine new building with food and shelter just out of reach for most of the day (and night), to those who may need it most.

Anne Maxfield Wilkinson

Sarasota

Advice for Rubio

There seems to be a lot of hoopla these days promoting the next Republican golden-boy-savior, Sen. Marco Rubio. It makes sense now that Rep. Paul Ryan is a bit passť.

The problem, however, is that the journey to the 2016 election is a long way off, and whether Rubio can survive that journey is problematic.

If he even wants to make it to 2014, he had better ditch the Tea Party fast and revoke his "Grover Norquist Pledge" immediately. Both will sink him.

The Tea Party is slowly corroding and any senator (Rubio) or representative (Vern Buchanan) who would commit his votes to the whim of an ego-driven Tea Party lobbyist has betrayed his constituency. Finally, Rubio would be foolish to count on the Latino vote.

Ray Matienzo

Sarasota

Seek justice for Melissa

What a horrible way to start your day -- reading the front-page story about the life and death of 11-year-old Melissa Stoddard ("Records offer glimpse into a girl's harsh life and death," Wednesday's Herald-Tribune).

Even worse is that her father and stepmother were only given a $50,000 bond and a charge of aggravated child abuse. This places no more value on that child's life than an animal! The child was killed, so why weren't they charged with murder?

I was a child of sexual and emotional abuse my entire childhood, with a mother who knew and did nothing to protect me. Misty Stoddard knew and did nothing. The emotional effects of being abused, or even witnessing it, never leave you.

I just turned 69 and still have emotional issues as a direct result of the abuse I was forced to endure. But I was one of the lucky ones; I was able to keep a promise to myself to become better than what raised me. It has taken a lot of therapy to keep on that path and I was lucky I could afford to pay for the help that was needed and to find some amazingly good therapists.

I sincerely hope our legal system steps up to the plate to not only get justice for Melissa but to protect her brothers and sisters from the same fate she was forced to endure. Those so-called parents should not have the opportunity to damage any other child, physically or emotionally.

Boots Baumbaugh

Sarasota

Hats off to WBTT

For the past 11 years I have attended and watched the outstanding growth of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. The introduction of WBTT brought great diversity to the Sarasota community, starting with its first performances at Theatre Works.

Recently, I had the privilege of seeing its production of August Wilson's "Jitney." It was an outstanding performance that could rival any similar on- or off-Broadway production.

Hats off to WBTT for adding quality dramatic actors and drama to its repertoire. Hats off to its board, staff and performers for wanting us to not only clap and sing along with its musicals, but to also understand and experience the emotional depth of the black experience through drama.

<p>Hope for the homeless</p><p>I am pleased to see that homelessness is finally on the front burner in our community, where it belongs. And I am more hopeful than in a long time that leadership on this issue is finally emerging.</p><p>It is particularly gratifying to see Sarasota's city manager, Tom Barwin, and Police Chief Bernadette DiPino taking a lead role, and yet homelessness is not solely a city problem. It is a community problem, although clearly the city bears the brunt.</p><p>Many communities nationwide have effectively ended homelessness, but they did so with everyone at the table. Another sign of promise is having several private donors step forward, and several local foundations have signaled they are ready to help.</p><p>Next, the business community must get on board, and Sarasota County government must take a lead role, and soon, lest we lose this momentum and opportunity. County government is where we come together for the common good with our tax dollars and ending homelessness will surely enhance the common good for the benefit of us all.</p><p>Another spark of promise came from Chairwoman Carolyn Mason during the county's recent planning workshop. As quoted in the Herald-Tribune on Dec. 7, 2012, "she believes there should be a 'one-stop' center for homeless services in both North and South County." This would be a big step forward, and we have only to look to Manatee County to gauge the success of the Bill Galvano One Stop Center.</p><p>We are latecomers to this national effort, but I firmly believe now is the time.</p><p>Richard Martin</p><p>Editor's note: The writer is former director of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness.</p><p>Questioning choices</p><p>I'm so glad Tom Lyons finally brought to light two of my most confounding issues with the Sarasota Salvation Army: not allowing the homeless access to their "campus" except at specific times, and charging $10 to sleep there ("So where do we want the city's homeless to go," Thursday's Herald-Tribune).</p><p>For an organization that solicits funds -- we thought to take care of people in need -- it is indeed mystifying how it can make these choices. Not only is it cruel to ban the homeless from the grounds, but those concerned with the "image" of the Rosemary District are naturally upset by the increasing congregations of sidewalk "residents," who, literally, have no other place to go.</p><p>Every time I drive by I am ashamed of the Salvation Army. Here's this fine new building with food and shelter just out of reach for most of the day (and night), to those who may need it most.</p><p>Anne Maxfield Wilkinson</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Advice for Rubio</p><p>There seems to be a lot of hoopla these days promoting the next Republican golden-boy-savior, Sen. Marco Rubio. It makes sense now that Rep. Paul Ryan is a bit passť.</p><p>The problem, however, is that the journey to the 2016 election is a long way off, and whether Rubio can survive that journey is problematic.</p><p>If he even wants to make it to 2014, he had better ditch the Tea Party fast and revoke his "Grover Norquist Pledge" immediately. Both will sink him.</p><p>The Tea Party is slowly corroding and any senator (Rubio) or representative (Vern Buchanan) who would commit his votes to the whim of an ego-driven Tea Party lobbyist has betrayed his constituency. Finally, Rubio would be foolish to count on the Latino vote.</p><p>Ray Matienzo</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Seek justice for Melissa</p><p>What a horrible way to start your day -- reading the front-page story about the life and death of 11-year-old Melissa Stoddard ("Records offer glimpse into a girl's harsh life and death," Wednesday's Herald-Tribune).</p><p>Even worse is that her father and stepmother were only given a $50,000 bond and a charge of aggravated child abuse. This places no more value on that child's life than an animal! The child was killed, so why weren't they charged with murder?</p><p>I was a child of sexual and emotional abuse my entire childhood, with a mother who knew and did nothing to protect me. Misty Stoddard knew and did nothing. The emotional effects of being abused, or even witnessing it, never leave you.</p><p>I just turned 69 and still have emotional issues as a direct result of the abuse I was forced to endure. But I was one of the lucky ones; I was able to keep a promise to myself to become better than what raised me. It has taken a lot of therapy to keep on that path and I was lucky I could afford to pay for the help that was needed and to find some amazingly good therapists.</p><p>I sincerely hope our legal system steps up to the plate to not only get justice for Melissa but to protect her brothers and sisters from the same fate she was forced to endure. Those so-called parents should not have the opportunity to damage any other child, physically or emotionally.</p><p>Boots Baumbaugh</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Hats off to WBTT</p><p>For the past 11 years I have attended and watched the outstanding growth of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. The introduction of WBTT brought great diversity to the Sarasota community, starting with its first performances at Theatre Works.</p><p>Recently, I had the privilege of seeing its production of August Wilson's "Jitney." It was an outstanding performance that could rival any similar on- or off-Broadway production.</p><p>Hats off to WBTT for adding quality dramatic actors and drama to its repertoire. Hats off to its board, staff and performers for wanting us to not only clap and sing along with its musicals, but to also understand and experience the emotional depth of the black experience through drama.</p><p>Sophia LaRusso</p><p>Sarasota</p>